Before I get to the book itself, I want to share a few things that need to be here right out of the gate:1. Congratulations! It is not easy to write a book. Any book. Anyone who writes a book and puts it out there for public consumption, and criticism, is brave. This is the MV Meadow's debut as a published author. I give a star just for being able to accomplish that challenging feat, because it's not easy to do. The number of hours that go onto writing, and eventually publishing, a 301 page book, is only imaginable if one is actively doing it, or if one has worked with authors on a regular basis.
2. I am absolutely, positively, completely, and irrevocably in love with this author for his bravery and daring choices. The content alone is an unfathomed amount of his soul spilled onto the pages. There are things in here that I didn't know about him, that I presumed I'd know by now. The ability for the reader to "collaboread" and collaborate with the author, and the never seen before format, set this apart from any other book about lyrics and/or songwriting that has ever been published. Trust me...I LOOKED! One can't love the daring choice to write the book in the format presented.
2. Full disclosure: I personally know the author. Writing a book review for an author one personally knows is actually more difficult to do, especially a review that's completely honest, and if necessary, critical. Since I have written reviews for authors I do know personally, I did ask him if he wanted me to write a review. The caveat to that, was that he would have NO knowledge in advance regarding what I would write. That is the same caveat I give to EVERY author I know personally. He gave his blessing. That, is also daring and brave.
Let's get to The Book Of Unheard Hits...
The format is the best place to dive into the book. There is Part One and Part Two. In Part One, the format starts with a singer and a bit of their biographical information. A description of that musician's influence on the author's life follows. MV Meadow goes on to add some of his own personal experiences that tie him and that artist, together. For example: Billie Holiday. Of all the singers in the book, Billie Holiday is number one. There's one line that stood out, and that line made me think, "she is the icon of the icons for him."
"Nothing sounds prettier than Billie Holiday's pain." Full stop. That one line says everything a reader needs to know about how the author feels about Billie Holiday.
Following the biographical and autobiographical connections is an original song, written by the author. The lyrics that follow are a mix of the heart and soul of the author. What follows is music paper. It's time for the reader to interact with the author and the lyrics by setting the lyrics to music. The type of music style they wish to use is left to the "collaboreader."
In Part Two, the lyrics are original songs by the author. How they came about is shared with the reader, and the reader is encouraged to set the lyrics to any style of music they wish. Other information about approaching the lyrics is part of the introduction and gives the reader free rein to do whatever they feel is best with the lyrics. The reader now becomes the decision maker when deciding if the chorus should go after a first verse, if there should be an instrumental solo, etc. You get the idea. There's a ton of freedom here for each reader.So, is that it? No. I couldn't put the book down once I started. I even started to form music in my head as I read each song. I approached reading the lyrics as poetry without music. I am not a writer of songs. I've never even attempted to write a song. It's simply not one of my gifts. I can set words to music, and I can sing the Hell out of ANY song put in front of me. But writing lyrics isn't my gift.
This author is a singer, musician, a writer, a curator, and more. But HIS gift of ALL gifts is writing lyrics!!! Writing this book is a gift to every single person whoever wanted to set words to music, but didn't have a clue on where to start. Now you have your start. There are lyrics for every single person's personally favorite genre, because you get to decide how you want these words to sound.
All of the lyrics are under copyright, so if you intend to make commercial use of the songs written in the book, you must contact the author. You are given all of the information to do that at the beginning, along with encouragement to record it, hashtag it, and share it. Remember, you are a "collaboreader," so collaboration with the author is encouraged.
Personally, I've been singing since I was 5 years old. Every song I love is lyrics intensive. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy a good dance mix, I do. I don't mind listening to a mix that repeats a certain phrase or chorus over and over. As a performer, lyrics are the delivery of a story or a message, and I prefer songs that have something to say. Every single song in The Book Of Unheard Hits has something to say about everything. I can't think of a single topic that doesn't appear in one of these FIFTY songs.
I decided to NOT critique any of the lyrics or any specific song. They are all works of art, art is subjective, and the author poured heart and soul into each word. I will say that every single set of lyrics in this book can be set into any genre the reader chooses. You CAN take a song called "Self-Indulgent Prick," you can have it be in your face, and you can turn it into a slow ballad, a fierce rock song, or hip hop, or Jazz, etc. You take whatever is inside of YOU and make it YOUR song, YOUR way.
My original rating was going to be 4.5 out of 5 stars. Because it's a first book and there's always room for improvement. And as I was editing this review I thought, "do I want to sit down and put music to some of these lyrics?" Did I want to at least try to do something I've never done before, now that the barrier of writing lyrics is out of my way? YES! For me, that's the purpose of the entire book. I added that 1/2 star right back in. FIVE "completely knocked me out" STARS!!! The book is available on Amazon and there is a sample that you can check out before ordering.
About The Author:
